AppleCouldSoonMakeaSharpTurnoniPhoneDisplays

There’s further proof that future iPhones will feature an OLED display. The supplier of those screens could be Sharp Corp., according to Bloomberg.

On Friday, it was reported that Sharp is expected to invest $566 million for the development of OLED production facilities, with the goal of starting output by June 2018. At the same time, Apple is said to be in negotiations with Sharp to secure organic LED displays, according to “a person familiar with the matter.”

Reports going back to November 2015 have indicated that Apple plans on switching to OLED display on future iPhones. That Sharp may play a big role in this isn’t that surprising. Foxconn Technology Group, a long-time Apple supplier, now owns Sharp.

LG and Samsung could also supply OLED displays to Apple.

The June 2018 implementation date suggests that not all 2017 iPhones will feature an OLED display. This possibility has also been discussed often in recent months. At this point, it looks like only the 5.5-inch iPhone Plus model will include the new display, at least for next year. By 2018, all iPhone models should include OLED displays.

Earlier this week, KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the 2017 iPhone to feature a scratch-resistant all-glass finish for both the front and back, with stainless steel edges for premium models.

About OLED

OLED, as a technology, offers consumer electronics owners a number of benefits over more conventional LCD panels. For one, the technology uses less power (making the device itself more battery efficient). They can also be thinner and lighter than LCD, offer wider viewing angles, higher brightness, and significantly higher contrast levels. OLED also features fast response times and wonderful color reproduction.